Door check



Jan. 6, 1942.v R. c. JACOBS 2,268,942

DOOR CHECK Filed April 29, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gttornegs R. C. JACOBSJan. 6, 1942.

DOOR CHECK Filed April 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnneutor Patented Jan.6, 1 942 UNITED STATES OFFICE 2,268,942 I noon CHECK Re; '0. Jacobs,Detroit, Mich. v

Application April 29, 1937, Serial No. 139,829

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to door checks of a type particularlyadapted for use in conjunction with automobile doors;

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a door checkhaving cushioning means for checking swinging movement of a door andyieldable means for holdingthe door in an open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door check embodyingmeans for eliminating undesirable noises which usually result fromfriction between the relatively movable parts.

With the above ends in view, and others which will become apparent fromthe detailed description, the invention is described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are sectionsillustrating different stages of operation ofthe doorcheck;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a section illustrating a modified securing means for therubber springs;

Fig. 6 is a section illustrating a construction embodying metal springs,instead of the rubber springs; 7

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section illustrating the use of roller bearings, instead ofball bearings, with rubber springs, and

Fig. 9 is a section, similar to Fig. 8, illustrating roller bearings inconjunction with the metal springs.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designatecorresponding parts.

The numeral I designates the door case in an automobile wall 2, and 3the door structure which is hingedly connected thereto. The hinges donot appear on the drawings. Secured to the door case I is a lug 4 andthe check, generally designated 5, is secured thereto by a pivot pin 6.

As may be seen more readily in Fig. 3, the door check 5 comprises twospaced apart arms I united at their outer, swinging ends by an integralloop formation 8. Spaced slightly from the loop formation 8 are opposedabutments 9. The two arms I are bowed, and although the check is formedof comparatively heavy gauge spring steel, the arms I, abutments 9 andthe loop formation 8 are resiliently compressible.

Secured to the vertical edge wall ID of the door 3, adjacent the openingH through which the door check 5 BlithdS, is afspring housing l2havingan integral wall 13 spaced from the wall ID. Two rubber springsMare retained in the housing l2 by an end plate I 5. Associated witheach spring M is a small plate I6 having a socket l1 receiving a ballbearing 3. The wall I3 and the end plate [Shave openings through whichthe door check 5 extends and the metal adjacent the edges of theseopenings is peened as at [9 to act as retainers for the plates l6.

In operation, as the door 3 is moved from the position shown in Fig. lto that shown in Fig. 2, the door check 5 is drawn between the ballbearings IS. The bearings 18 are free to rotate in their respectivesockets and therefore have rolling contact with the arms I. This rollingcontact eliminates undesirable noises. The ball earings l8 are normallyspaced apart a distance less than the widest spacing of the arms 1 sothat the arms 1 Or the ball bearings I8 must yield in order to permitthe check to be drawn therebetween. By making both the arms 1 and theball bearings resiliently yieldable the metal of the check 1 is lesslikely to suffer damage from fatigue. As the door reaches its openposition, the ball bearings snap past the abutments 9 and the loopformation strikes the end plate [5 and checks the outward swingingmovement of the door. The loop formation 8, being formed of springmetal, acts to cushion the door checking function, and the abutments 9engage the ball bearings 3 to yieldably hold the door open.

During closing of the door, the bowed formation of the arms 1 results ina cam-like action in conjunction with the ball bearings I8 which tendsto impel the door toward its closed position during the later stages ofits closing movement.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the housing I2a has a dishedformation for receiving the rubber springs [4a and a retainer plate |3ais secured to the housing end .wall I50. by pins 20. The pins 20 extendthrough the rubber springs Ma and also function to hold the springsproperly spaced apart during assembly of the check 5a between the ballbearings I8a supported thereby through means of metallic socket membersIla.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the Mc'mounted therein. Metalplates I are resiliently supported by the rubber springs and rotatablysupport roller bearings I80. Fig. 9 shows similar rollers |8dresiliently supported by coiled springs Md.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed it will be understood that various changes may be made withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

1. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element having a pair of springarms bowed outwardly away from each other and united at one end thereof,an attachment portion on the opposite end of said movable element spacedfrom said united end, bearings engaging opposite sides of said movableelement, and resilient means yieldingly urging said bearings intoyielding engagement with said spring arms, said movable element havingprojections with opposed cam surfaces spaced apart from said united endand adapted to act respectively in conjunction with said bearings inimpelling lengthwise movement of said movable element in oppositedirections.

2. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element having a pair of springarms bowed outwardly away from each other and united at one end thereofin a spring loop having its junctions with said spring arms and theportions adjacent thereto spaced apart from each other transversely ofsaid movable element, an attachment portion on the opposite end of saidmovable element spaced from said united end, bearings engaging oppositesides of said movable element, and resilient means yieldingly urgingsaid bearings into yielding engagement with said spring arms, saidmovable element having projections with opposed cam surfaces spacedapart from said united end and adapted to act respectively inconjunction with said bearings in impelling lengthwise movement of saidmovable element in opposite directions.

3. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element, said element beingformed of spring metal and comprising a pair of arms, said arms beingunited by an integral loop formation and having an abutment thereonspaced from the loop formation, bearing members disposed on oppositesides of said element and adapted to engage the arms thereof, andsprings supporting said bearing members spaced apart less than thethickness of said abutment, said arms being oppositely bowed whereby thesurfaces thereof are resiliently compressible and act in conjunctionwith said bearing members in impelling lengthwise movement of saidelement.

REX C. JACOBS

